Threatening E-Mails Sent To Hundreds Of Ukrainian Organizations After RFE/RL Investigation

Several state institutions in Ukraine on October 14 were evacuated after hundreds of schools, businesses, embassies, and media outlets received e-mails threatening a terrorist attack that appeared to be linked to an RFE/RL investigation into Russian security services' activities in Ukraine.

Authorities inspected schools, businesses, hotels, embassies, and media organizations -- including RFE/RL -- that received the threatening e-mail looking for explosive devices.

The message was sent by a person who identified himself as a representative of a "terrorist group" whose name matches that of an anti-Ukrainian Telegram channel, which has spread calls to burn cars belonging to Ukrainian military personnel and representatives of conscription centers. RFE/RL is not disclosing the name of the sender or the group for security and ethical reasons.

The threatening e-mail follows an investigation published by the Skhemy (Schemes) investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, showing how Russian intelligence services recruit Ukrainians, including minors, to set fire to the cars of the Ukrainian military personnel and representatives of conscription centers.

The Schemes report by journalists Iryna Sysak and Valeria Yegoshyna and freelancer Yulia Khymeryk said a person with the same name as the sender of the threatening e-mail lives in Russian-occupied Crimea and has a Russian passport.

The threatening e-mail named the three journalists and said they were to blame for any of the acts that the group called for.

RFE/RL President Stephen Capus said RFE/RL was aware that its journalists had been named in the threatening e-mails.

"We will not be intimidated and stand behind our reporters who will continue to bring news to Ukrainian audiences without fear or favor," Capus said, pledging to fully cooperate with authorities in their investigations.

Representatives of Ukraine's National Police on October 14 checked the office of RFE/RL in Kyiv and did not find an explosive device.

According to Schemes, the group that claimed responsibility for recruiting people to carry out the actions is actively spreading messages on social media calling for the burning of Ukrainian military vehicles and demonstrating the results of previous arson attacks. The recruiting effort offers $100 to those who agree to take part.

Artem Dekhtyarenko, spokesman for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Russia was trying to make it look like arson attacks are being carried out by ordinary Ukrainians when in fact the attacks are instigated by Russian security services.

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The group's Telegram channel also shares videos of officers at conscription centers detaining Ukrainian citizens for mobilization and calls for persecution of these soldiers in exchange for a promised payment of $1,000.

The three RFE/RL journalists also reported that in early October representatives of the same group sent messages to several Ukrainian government agencies offering to "kill for a fee" top security officials and public figures. They introduced themselves as an organization that "has long been engaged in the execution of orders for violent actions and the resolution of issues through physical elimination."

The group's website says that it provides "services" such as "racketeering, contract killings, car theft, bodily harm, arson."

The SBU's press service told Schemes that the mass mailing of threatening e-mails should be viewed as an operation aimed at spreading panic among the Ukrainian public.